This lesson practises 29 C2 collocations on Business & Management. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
keen interest
The chief buyer showed a keen interest in the supplier's sustainable packaging.
state an aim
The proposal should state an aim that can be measured at the end of the project.
experience a decline
The retailer began to experience a decline in footfall after the car park closed.
strike a balance between
Small manufacturers must strike a balance between cost and quality when selecting materials.
violence escalates
Violence escalates when the peace talks fail.
arouse the client's interest
The prototype was designed to arouse the client's interest before the formal pitch.
flicker of interest
The demonstration sparked a flicker of interest among investors who had dismissed the idea.
see a decline
The sector may see a decline in investment if borrowing costs remain high.
streamline internal processes
The new software will streamline internal processes and reduce approval delays.
fierce competition
The company faced fierce competition from low-cost international rivals.
immense asset
Fluency in three languages became an immense asset when the firm expanded abroad.
glimmer of interest
The revised forecast produced a glimmer of interest from the venture-capital fund.
narrow profit margins
The retailer survived on narrow profit margins but offset them with high turnover.
make a stand against
Several directors chose to make a stand against the business plan because it relied on mass redundancies.
firm conviction
She acted on the firm conviction that transparency would strengthen customer trust.
allocate scarce resources
During the downturn, managers had to allocate scarce resources to the most profitable divisions.
call in the receivers
The company may have to call in the receivers if its debts continue to grow.
launch a scheme
The bank plans to launch a scheme to help small exporters manage currency risk.
undivided attention
The consultant gave the client her undivided attention throughout the negotiation.
plummeting profits
The company reported plummeting profits after its main factory was damaged by flooding.
allocate part of a budget
The council agreed to allocate part of a budget to improving cybersecurity.
advantages outweigh the disadvantages
For this policy, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
draw up a contract
The legal department will draw up a contract that protects both parties' intellectual property.
make sound business sense
Outsourcing the service would not make sound business sense at the current volume.
terminate a contract
The board voted to terminate a contract after repeated breaches of confidentiality.
entirely dependent
The project's success is entirely dependent on securing timely permits.
reaffirm a commitment
At the annual meeting, the CEO will reaffirm a commitment to fair pay.
breach a contract
By missing the delivery deadline, the contractor could breach a contract worth millions.
set themselves clear objectives
Before the expansion, the partners must set themselves clear objectives for the first year.